Adena Golf & Country Club
Now The Club at Iron Lake at IronCrest
Everything you need to know about the $63 million sale, the name change, new ownership, and what comes next for one of the most dramatic golf courses in Florida.
What Happened to Adena Golf Course?
Adena Golf & Country Club in Ocala, Florida was sold for $63 million to Oculus R Golf Partners, led by Ocala residents Craig and Elizabeth Phillips. The golf club is now called The Club at Iron Lake, and the residential community is now IronCrest.
The championship 18-hole course, built on former limestone quarries with up to 80 feet of elevation change, remains one of the most unique golf experiences in all of Florida. The new owners plan to develop IronCrest as a premier residential and equestrian community.
Read the full story of the sale and name change →Adena Golf Course Name Changes
This property has been through more name changes than most courses see in a century. Here is the complete timeline.
Adena Golf & Country Club
Community: Planned residentialOriginal opening under Frank Stronach
Closed
Abruptly closed due to family dispute
Club Adena
Community: Club Adena ResidencesReopened under Stronach ownership
The Club at Iron Lake
Community: IronCrestNew ownership - Oculus R Golf Partners
About the Championship Course
Named one of the Best New Courses in America by Golf Digest when it opened in 2015. The course design takes full advantage of the dramatic quarry landscape.
The 18-hole championship course stretches over 7,000 yards. Fairways are lined by Spanish moss-draped oak trees and rugged limestone rock faces creating a truly unique Florida golf experience.
Spring-fed quarry lakes provide up to 80 feet of elevation change from tee to green on some holes — a dramatic rarity in Florida, where most courses are completely flat.
The sprawling property sits just four miles from downtown Ocala and ten miles from the World Equestrian Center. The IronCrest community will include residential lots and equestrian facilities.
Built on the site of abandoned limestone quarries once mined for road construction material. Frank Stronach invested over $100 million transforming the quarry pits into Iron Lake and the championship course.
The club has hosted the NXXT Women's Pro Tour year-end championship, bringing professional women's golf competition to the Ocala area starting in 2024.
The $63 Million Sale
Buyers: Craig and Elizabeth Phillips through Oculus R Golf Partners
Sale Price: $63 million
Property Size: 1,300 acres
The Phillips family are Ocala residents with deep ties to the local golf and equestrian communities. Their partnership includes both institutional and private investors.
Golf Club: The Club at Iron Lake (championship course continues)
Community: IronCrest residential development
Equestrian: 355 acres in Farmland Preservation Area for equestrian farm community
The development aims to reflect Ocala's character and capitalize on its growing reputation as a world-class equestrian destination near the World Equestrian Center.
The History of Adena Golf Course
Frank Stronach's Vision (2008-2015)
Canadian billionaire Frank Stronach, founder of auto parts giant Magna International, purchased more than 1,200 acres from the Stavola family in 2008 for approximately $17 million. At the time, Stronach was already Marion County's largest private landowner with roughly 29,000 acres — surpassing even Disney World's local holdings.
Rather than viewing the abandoned limestone quarries as obstacles, Stronach's architects transformed them into the course's defining feature. He reportedly invested more than $50 million into construction alone, with total investment estimates exceeding $100 million. The course opened in 2015 to immediate acclaim from Golf Digest.
The Abrupt Closure (2018)
In July 2018, members received a stunning message: the club had abruptly closed. A recorded phone message stated that "the club officially closed its doors and is no longer open for business." No explanation was given. Behind the scenes, a family dispute between Frank Stronach and his daughter Belinda over management of The Stronach Group was tearing the business empire apart.
Reopening as Club Adena (2022)
After the family litigation was settled in August 2020, Frank Stronach regained full control of the golf club. In November 2022, the club reopened under the name "Club Adena." It gradually returned to operation, striking partnerships including a multi-year deal with the NXXT Women's Pro Tour for their year-end championship.
The Club at Iron Lake / IronCrest (2024-Present)
Oculus R Golf Partners purchased the property for $63 million, renaming the golf club to The Club at Iron Lake and the residential community to IronCrest. The new names reference Iron Lake, the spring-fed quarry lake that is the visual centerpiece of the course. The new owners plan a premier residential and equestrian community development.
Frequently Asked Questions About Adena Golf Course
What happened to Adena Golf & Country Club in Ocala?
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Adena Golf & Country Club in Ocala was sold for $63 million to Oculus R Golf Partners, led by Craig and Elizabeth Phillips. The golf club has been renamed The Club at Iron Lake, and the surrounding residential community is now called IronCrest. The property includes a championship 18-hole course built on former limestone quarries with dramatic elevation changes.
What is the new name of Adena Golf Course?
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Adena Golf & Country Club is now called The Club at Iron Lake. The surrounding residential community has been renamed IronCrest. The names reference Iron Lake, the dramatic spring-fed quarry lake that serves as the visual centerpiece of the golf course. The property has had several names over the years: Adena Golf & Country Club (2015-2018), Club Adena (2022-2024), and now The Club at Iron Lake (2024-present).
Who bought Adena Golf Course in Ocala?
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The 1,300-acre property was purchased by Oculus R Golf Partners for $63 million. The buyers are Craig and Elizabeth Phillips, Ocala residents with deep ties to the local golf and equestrian communities. Their investment partnership includes both institutional and private investors with plans to develop IronCrest as a premier residential and equestrian community.
Is The Club at Iron Lake (formerly Adena Golf) open to the public?
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The Club at Iron Lake operates as a private country club. Membership information and guest policies are available by contacting the club directly. The championship 18-hole course stretches over 7,000 yards and was recognized by Golf Digest as one of the Best New Courses in America when it originally opened in 2015.
Why did Adena Golf & Country Club close in 2018?
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Adena Golf & Country Club abruptly closed in July 2018 due to a family dispute within the Stronach business empire. Founder Frank Stronach and his daughter Belinda were involved in litigation over management of the family company. The dispute was settled in August 2020, and the club reopened in November 2022 as Club Adena before being sold in the $63 million transaction.
What makes the Adena Golf Course / Club at Iron Lake unique?
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The course was built on the site of abandoned limestone quarries, creating spring-fed quarry lakes that provide up to 80 feet of elevation change from tee to green. This dramatic elevation is extremely rare in Florida. The 18-hole championship course stretches over 7,000 yards with fairways lined by Spanish moss-draped oak trees and rugged limestone rock faces. Frank Stronach invested over $100 million in the property.
Where is The Club at Iron Lake located?
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The Club at Iron Lake (formerly Adena Golf & Country Club) is located on a 1,300-acre property just four miles from downtown Ocala and ten miles from the World Equestrian Center. The property sits in the heart of Marion County, with plans for the IronCrest residential community to include an equestrian farm component.
What are the development plans for IronCrest in Ocala?
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The new owners plan to develop IronCrest as a premier residential community that reflects Ocala's character. Plans include developing 355 acres within the Farmland Preservation Area as a unique equestrian farm community. The property's proximity to the World Equestrian Center positions IronCrest to capitalize on Ocala's growing reputation as a world-class equestrian destination.
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